Hi Guru! It’s been 20 years that you’ve started officially your carreer with “No More Mr Nice Guy”. How do you feel when you think of your debut with Gangstarr in the hip hop movement? What did evolved the most during these two decades : you or the rap game ?

Guru : My debut was great and GangStarr is me always!I have evolved and gotten even better as an artist, rapper and performer, plus have added a great new chapter to an already illustrious career. The rap game has become very corporate and commercial now and the music biz is mostly a digital game. 7 Grand is on top of all the changes and we have always embraced change and new technology.

We saw an surprising message on your Twitter page : “GangStarr is back!!!”. Is that rumor true ? Have you contacted Primo about a possible reunion ?

Guru: GangStarr has never went anywhere. It’s 4 ever! Anything is possible, we have a Black President in the USA…

What’s the differences between recording a Jazzmatazz album and a solo album (aside from the collaborations) ? Do you work the same way on those types of project ?

Guru and Solar: If it is not Jazzmatazz, which is more of a certain style and musical format, Solar and I are freer in being able to express what we see as real Hip Hop for right now and we can just let things flow. Both are fun do record though but very different.

Guru 8.0 is your second solo LP. Can you explain the concept of “Lost & Found” ?

Guru: The Jazzmatazz series are also solo LPs, so really it’s my 6th. “Lost and Found” means that Hip Hop has been lost and is now found here at 7 Grand with myself and Solar. Just like the title track says I have never sold out!

Solar: Everywhere we have been in the world people had complaints and or concerns about Real Hip Hop. We have kept that alive at 7 Grand and this album is Real Hip Hop for 2009 not 2000 or 1995.

To me, it sounds like a “Hip Hop 2.0” album, with autotune, electro flavors and some 80s samples (such as Queen)… Wasn’t it to risky for you and Solar to take that direction ?

Guru and Solar: Why not, we embrace technology just like when people said no protools and wanted to keep just analogue. We used it in our own way not to pretend I could sing. It’s a new sound and it was fun to use. We are forward thinkers so no it is 8.0 not 2.0. We move forward with the times.

Do you think autotune is a trend in rap music or an innovation ? What do you think of anti-autotune tracks like “DOA” from Jay-Z or “Robot” from KRS One & Buckshot ?

Guru and Solar: It’s a musical, digital innovation. Just another form of eq. That is one or two opinions. Autotune is everywhere so I guess people like it. We are not angry about anything, we just make good music.

This new album has met some negative critics. What’s your reaction ?

Guru: That was just a few people who hadn’t even listened to the record and who are stuck in the past. There is alot of love and support out there right now! We don’t dwell on negativity. Our tours have been sold out Worldwide!

What’s the secret of your longevity ?

Guru: Staying true to the artform and the culture. Remaining connected with the Streets and being a visionary not a sellout.

As a veteran, how do you look at the young generation of MCs and producers?

Guru and Solar: There is alot of talent out there and like always there is alot who are being slept on because they are not selling out or doing anything commercial.

If you have a last message for streetbloggers in France, let us know !